Lafarge North America announced that its Lafarge U.S. headquarters in Chicago has achieved gold certification under LEED for Commercial Interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council. Gold certification identifies Lafarge’s Chicago office as a showcase for sustainable design and recognizes the company’s leadership in transforming the building industry. 

“We are extremely proud to have achieved LEED gold certification at our headquarters in Chicago,” said Lafarge U.S. President and CEO John Stull. “We were very deliberate in designing an office that would reflect our values and our commitment to contributing to building better cities and a healthier, more sustainable future. The Lafarge Group is continually working toward similar achievements at our facilities around the world.”

The use of sustainable Lafarge building materials contributed to the office’s high marks for indoor environmental quality and innovative design. These include limestone from the local Elburn, Ill., quarry, used as a backsplash in the reception area, and high-performance, low-emission Ductal concrete for the tile flooring and the kitchen countertops. In addition, the office is conveniently located within walking distance from the Blue Line, providing an environmentally-friendly option for employees commuting to work by train.

Other sustainable features that were important to Lafarge during the design phase and contributed to this proud achievement include:

• Synthetic gypsum wallboard which uses 99 percent recycled material.
• A sustainable design that allows ample natural light, reducing demand for artificial lighting.
• Zone-specific thermal monitoring to ensure comfort without wasted energy.
• Water-saving toilets and sinks, which reduce typical water use by 30 percent.
• Motion sensors that ensure lights turn off automatically when rooms are not occupied.

The Lafarge U.S. headquarters office opened in Chicago in September 2012.